Harambee (African-American newspaper) facts for kids
Harambee was an important African-American newspaper published in the 1960s. It was created to share news and ideas within the Black community in Los Angeles, California. The name Harambee comes from the Swahili language and means "Let's Pull Together." This name showed the newspaper's goal of uniting different groups.
Contents
What Was Harambee?
Harambee was first published in August 1966. It was started by Ron Karenga for his group, the US Organization. Later, Karenga gave the newspaper to the Los Angeles Black Congress. This Congress was a large group that brought together many different organizations.
Who Was Part of the Black Congress?
The Los Angeles Black Congress included several important groups. These were the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Other groups like the Freedom Draft Movement and the Afro-American Association were also involved. John Floyd's Black Panther Political Party and Karenga's US Organization were also members.
Spreading Important Ideas
Harambee played a big role in sharing the ideas of the Black Panther Party in Los Angeles. The newspaper helped people learn about the Black Panther symbol and what the group stood for. Its very first issue marked the one-year anniversary of the 1965 Watts Rebellion. This was a time of significant unrest and protests in Los Angeles.
Key People Behind the Newspaper
Several important people worked on Harambee. Elaine Brown, who later became a leader, was a reporter for the newspaper. The main editors included Ron Karenga and John Floyd. They helped decide what news and stories would be published.
Changes Over Time
By April 1969, Harambee changed its focus. It became a newspaper just for Karenga's US organization again. This meant it was no longer the main publication for the wider Los Angeles Black Congress.
